New Delhi/Kolkata: Opposition parties - BJP and CPI(M) - on Saturday slammed as "callous" and a "cruel blow" on the common man the Centre's decision to raise petrol prices and demanded a rollback in the hike.
BJP said the seventh hike in the last six months was totally unjustified and amounted to a loot of the common man and that it is the "worst gift" that a government can give to the people in the New Year.
CPI-M called upon its state units to launch an immediate protest.
"This hike is totally unjustified. This is nothing but loot of the common man by the government. A product which costs Rs 30 is being sold at Rs 60, which is a 100 per cent taxation. We call for its rollback," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said in New Delhi.
He said the ground of under-recovery by the oil companies cited by the government as the reason for the hike is not true.
"This is the seventh hike in the last six months. Only last month there was an increase of Rs 3 per litre. Oil companies are earning profits and giving dividends while still showing under-recovery," Javadekar said in New Delhi.
He expressed fear that now even diesel prices may go up.
"Food inflation is at 18 per cent while inflation is at 9 per cent. This is the worst gift that a government can give to the people in New Year," Javadekar said.
The CPI-M Politburo said the hike showed how the UPA government was riding roughshod over the interests of the people.
"The Politburo calls upon all its Party units to immediately protest the callous hike," the CPI(M)'s highest policy-making body, which is having a meeting in Kolkata, said in a statement.
"This cruel blow makes a mockery of all the assurances of the government to take steps to curb price rise. The people of this country will not take such burdens on them quietly," the statement said.
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